• APS-C 369.7mm2
  • 20.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • APS-C 372.1mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200

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Differences

Samsung NX20 advantages over Pentax K-500

  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Thinner
    39 mm vs 71 mm
    Thinner
  • HDMI out
    HDMI out vs None
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Lighter weight
    637g vs 852g
    Lighter weight
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.69x vs 0.61x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    20.3 vs 16.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    7.5 fps vs 6.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Pentax K-500 advantages over Samsung NX20

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Less expensive
    $600 vs $1100 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Higher effective ISO
    1,087 vs 785 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 710 vs 360 shots
    Capture more photos
  • More dots on screen
    922k vs 614k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    30 vs 11 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    51200 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax K-500

Review Excerpt

  • High quality images with lots of detail; Excellent graphical user interface is fun to use; Smart implementation of WiFi makes it relatively easy to share photos wirelessly.

  • Designed so much like a DSLR you may wonder why you shouldn't get a DSLR instead; Some performance issues, particularly slow buffer clearing and shot-to-shot speed; Initial WiFi set-up can be confusing.

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-01

Samsung NX20
Pentax K-01
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
Pentax K-500
Pentax K-01
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • $359
  • APS-C
  • External Mic Jack
  • HDMI out

Compared to Sony A57

Samsung NX20
Sony A57
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Thinner
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
Pentax K-500
Sony A57
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $800
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen

Compared to Sony NEX-F3

Samsung NX20
Sony NEX-F3
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
Pentax K-500
Sony NEX-F3
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $600
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen

Compared to Fujifilm X-E1

Samsung NX20
Fujifilm X-E1
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
Pentax K-500
Fujifilm X-E1
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Less expensive
  • $899
  • APS-C
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Thinner

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Samsung NX20
Pentax K-5 IIs
  • $400
  • APS-C
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Pentax K-500
Pentax K-5 IIs
  • $597
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Higher effective ISO
  • Top deck display
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